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(No Model.)

J. O. B-IGKPORD. WORSTED SLIPPER ORSHOE.

Patented Jan. 15, 1895.

, UN ITED STATES JOHN C. BICKFORD, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR FORD & SWEET, OF SAME PLACE.

PATENT OFFICE.

TO BICK= WORSTED SLIP PER OR SHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 532,525, dated January 15, 1895.

Application filed August 30, 1894. Serial No. 621,659. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern.-

BeitknownthatI,JOHNC.BIOKFORD,acitizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Worsted Slippers or Shoes, of which the'following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to improve the construction of slippers or shoes, as for example, those which are formed with crocheted or knitted uppers, which are stitched or secured to leather soles. To this end, I employ acomposite sole, which is constructed of a body portion and awearing surface, the latter being preferably sheep skin. The sheep skin is cut larger than the body portion, so that the edges of the same project from the body portion of the sole, and these edges are crimped or turned up around the body por tion of the sole to form an upwardly projecting lip or bead. To this projecting lip or head, the upper is secured by butting the same directly against the lip and fastening the same to the lip by over-casting, whereby there will be no ridge or projection between the parts, but a smooth joint,and whereby the shoe can be constructed without turning.

Referring to the drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shoe or slipper constructed according to my invention. Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are perspective views of the parts from which my composite sole is constructed. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view showing the parts of the sole as first united. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view showing the construction, when w the edges of the bottom or sheepskin sole portion of the sole.

have been crimped or turned around the body Fig. 7 'is a perspective View showing how the two parts of the sole may be also stitched together, and Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view of the finished shoe.

As heretofore constructed, the uppers of slippers or shoes of the class I have referred to, have been provided with a tape binding around their lower edge, and the tape binding and sole have been stitched together, through and through, to secure the sole and upper together. I have found in practice that this construction is objectionable, as the stitches for holding the upper and sole together are directly exposed on the wearing surface of the sired.

In the construction which I have devised, I do away with the tape binding and I provide the sole with an upwardly extending projection or lip, to which the upper may be directly secured.

In the drawings, A designates the upper, which may be knitted or crocheted with an integral selvage or binding 15 on its lower edge, or any other desired form of upper may be used.

In constructing the composite sole B, which I have devised, I employ a central body portion 11, and as the body portion is completely inclosed and is not exposed to wear, I may use a. comparatively inexpensiveclassof leather for this part of the sole, or ifpreferred, I may make it of leather board or similar material. Upon the upper surface of the'body portion 11, I preferably cement or paste an inner sole 10 of the same size as the body portion, which is formed of sheep skin and which carries the natural wool lining D. An Outer or wearing sole of sheep skin which is somewhat larger than the body portion 11 is then cemented or secured to the bottom surface of the body portion and I preferably employ a set of gages or tools, for centering the body portion with respect to the wearing sole, so that the wearing sole, as 12, will project evenly upon all sides of the body portion, the parts then assuming the relation illustrated in Fig. 5. When the parts have been secured together 0 as last described, the projecting edges of the wearing sole 12 are then crimped or turned up around the body portion to form a circumferential projection or lip 13, which extends up and away from the wearing surface, 5 as shown in Fig. 6.

For the purpose of crimping or turning up the edges of the sole 12, I preferablyemploy a die and follower of'substantially the same size and shape as the body portion 11, and we force the'sole through the said die having first slightly moistened the projecting edges,

thus turning or crimping up the edges 18. It is evident that the projection 13 may be crimped or turned up in any other desired manner.

The form of sole as thus constructed and as illustrated in Fig. 6, has been found to be sufiiciently strong for ordinary wear especially if cement is used for securing the parts of the composite sole together; but to make the parts absolutely secure, I may stitch the parts of the sole together as illustrated at 14 in Fig. 7, and thus insure the parts remaining in place independent of the cement.

In completing the shoe, from the parts, which are thus constructed, the upper is butted directly against the projecting lip 13 and is over-cast or sewed over and over directly to said lip and by adopting this style of sewing, I avoid the formation of a ridge or crease and the parts may be neatly and accurately joined together without reversing or turning the shoe. It will also be seen that the stitches which unite the sole and upper are not exposed to wear as they are at some distance above the bottom of the sole. Hence the shoe is not open to the objection previously pointed out.

My shoe as thus constructed may be easily and rapidly manufactured and forms a very superior article as the same is durable and lasting,and very neatin appearance and comfortable, as there are no creases or seams between the upper and sole either on the ontside or inside of the shoe. j

I am aware that changes may be made in the construction of my slipper or shoe without departing from the scope of my invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the details which I have shown and described, but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A shoe or slipper having a sole with an upwardly projecting lip extending from the same and an upper butted against the proj ecting lip and over-cast thereto, whereby the parts are united without ridges, and whereby the shoe or slipper is completed without turning, substantially as described.

2. A shoe or slipper consisting of a sole formed of a body portion, a wearing surface or sole secured to the bottom of the sole, the edge of the same projecting beyond the body portion and being upwardly crimped to form an upwardly projecting lip, and an upper butted against said lip and over-cast thereto, whereby the parts are united without ridges and whereby the shoe or slipper is completed without turning, substantially as described.

3. A shoe or slipper formed with a sole consisting of a body portion and a wearing surface or sole, the latter being crimped about the body portion to form an upwardly projecting lip, and an upper formed of knitted or crocheted material with an integral selvage or binding butted against said lip and over-cast thereto, whereby the shoe or slipper is completed without turning and the parts are united without ridges, substantially as described.

4. A 3010 fora shoe or slipper consisting of a body portion 11, a wearing surface 12 secured to the bottom thereof, said wearing surface extending beyond the body portion and being crimped to form an upwardly projecting lip and a lining of natural WOOl secured to the upper side of the body portion, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN C. BICKFORD.

Witnesses:

LOUIS W. SOUTHGATE, PHILIP W. SOUTHGATE. 

